County to pay $25,000 to Hempfield man who claims guards beat him in Westmoreland jail

Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday approved a $25,000 out-of-court settlement with a Hempfield man who claimed he was “savagely beaten” by guards while incarcerated at the county jail.

Kevan Kolling, 68, was arrested in December 2014 and charged with burglary offenses. According a lawsuit filed last year, Kolling claimed he was beaten by guards who barged into his cell after he covered a window with paper.

Kolling, who has a prosthetic left leg, claimed he was taunted by guards after he returned to his cell following a visit to the facility’s medical unit. In the lawsuit, Kolling said he sat on his bed as four guards entered his cell. He claimed he was maced, beaten and covered with blood. After the attack, he was handcuffed and dragged more than 100 feet into a shower and dropped to the floor, he contended.

According to court documents, Kolling said he suffered a broken left clavicle and a dislocated shoulder in the incident.

Kolling’s lawyer Fran Murrman said his client was satisfied with the settlement.

“He’s pleased to put the whole matter behind him. He thought he had to pursue this matter because he felt violated,” Murrman said.

In addition to the county, jail Warden John Walton and three guards were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

David Regoli, assistant solicitor for the county, said the decision was made to settle the case rather than to seek a trial. No criminal charges were filed in connection with Kolling’s claims.

The county did not admit any liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement, Regoli said.

Kolling, according to court records, was released on parole on Feb. 25, 2015, after he served 86 days behind bars. He pleaded guilty to a burglary count and was sentenced to serve up to 23 months in jail and one year on probation.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.